All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 155: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

WARLORD OF MARS. I found myself in a small, circular chamber within the buttress. Before me a door opened, presumably, upon the inner court beyond. For a moment I hesitated, all my suspicions now sud- denly, though tardily, roused; then, with a shrug of my shoulders, I opened the door and stepped out into the glare of torches that lighted the inner court. Directly opposite me a massive tower rose to a height of three hundred feet. It was of the strangely beautiful mod- ern Barsoomian style. of architecture, its entire surface hand-carved in bold relief with intricate and fanciful de- signs. Thirty feet above the courtyard and overlooking it was a broad _ bal- cony, and there, indeed, was Matai Shang, and with him were Thurid and Phaidor, Thuvia, and Dejah Thoris— the last two heavily ironed. A hand- ful of thern warriors stood just be- hind the little party. As I entered the enclosure the eyes of those in the balcony were full upon me. An ugly smile distorted the cruel lips of Matai Shang. ‘Thurid hurled a taunt at me and placed a familar hand upon the shoulder of my princess. Like a tigress she turned upon him, striking the beast a heavy blow with the man- acles upon her wrist. He would have struck back had not Matai Shang interfered, and then I saw that the two men were not overfriend- ly; for the manner of the thern was arrogant and domineering as he made it plain to.the First Born that the Prin- cess of Helium was the personal prop- erty of the Father of Therns. And Thurid’s bearing toward the ancient hekkador savored not at all of liking or respect. When the altercation in the balcony had subsided Matai Shang turned again to me. * Earthman,” he cried, “you have earned a more ignoble death than now lies within our weakened power to in- flict upon you; but that the death you die to-night may be doubly bitter, know you that when you have passed, your 10 § 865 widow becomes the wife of Matai Shang, hekkador of the Holy Therns, for a Martian year. “At the end of that time, as you know, she shall be discarded, as is the law among us, but not, as is usual, to lead a quiet and honored life as high priestess of some hallowed shrine. In- stead, Dejah Thoris, Princess of He- lium, shall become the plaything of my heutenants—perhaps of thy most hated enemy, ‘Churid, the black dator.” As he ceased speaking he awaited in silence evidently for some outbreak of rage upon my part — something that would have added to the spice of his revenge. But I did not give him the satisfaction that he craved. Instead, I did the one thing of all others that might rouse his anger and increase his hatred of me; for I knew that if I died Degsah Thoris, too, would find a way to die before they could heap further indignities upon her. Of all the holy of holies which the thern venerates and worships none is more revered than the yellow wig which covers his bald pate, and next thereto comes the circlet of gold and the great diadem, whose scintillant rays mark the attainment of the Tenth Cycle. And, knowing this, I removed the wig and circlet from my head, tossing them carelessly upon the flagging of the court. Then I wiped my feet upon the yellow tresses; and as a groan of rage arose from the balcony I spat full upon the holy diadem. Matai Shang went livid with anger, but upon the lips of Thurid I could see a grim smile of amusement, for to him these things were not holy; so, lest he should derive too much amusement from my act, I cried: “ And thus did I with the holies of Issus, Goddess of Life Eternal, ere I threw Issus herself to the mob that once had worshiped her, to be torn to pieces in her own temple.” That’ put an end to Thurid’s grin- ning, for he had been high in the favor oi Issus. comliclooks.com